More Chinese arrests by Philippines immigration officials

The Manila Times reported over the weekend that the Philippines Bureau of Immigration has apprehended and deported large numbers of Chinese for illegally working, many at online gambling companies, this year…and many more have mysteriously been released after being arrested, possibly due to official corruption.

Our  readers will recall the high profile case of alleged Chinese online gambling ring head Wang Bo, who was at the centre of Bureau corruption allegations prior to his recent deportation back to China.

“Following the Wang Bo case, BI agents hauled nearly 200 alien employees at an online casino hub, Zhong Hwa Enterprises Co. at Star Cruise Centre at Newport Village, Pasay City,” the Times reports. “At least 155 people turned out to be undocumented Chinese reportedly “smuggled” into the country, while 35 of them were recipients of the CEZA [Cagayan Economic Zone Authority] visa.”

Bureau chief Siegfred Mison has cracked down on questionable behaviour by his officials, warning Bureau employees against releasing any alien in custody under questionable circumstances, and emphasising the need to adhere to official process.

This week immigration officials arrested 32 “illegals”, 29 of whom were Chinese nationals as the drive against illegal foreign workers continued. 14 other Chinese were released once their immigration status had been checked and verified.

The issue is complicated by foreign workers who acquire work visas from the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, which licenses online casinos, and then work at internet casino enterprises outside CEZA, which invalidates their visas.

Efforts to obtain comment from the CEO of CEZA, Jose Ponce, were unsuccessful the Manila Times reported.

Last week, a joint team of National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group raided an online gambling operation – Xing Qui Ba Inc. – in Makati City; the number of arrests in the swoop has yet to be confirmed.

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